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Put mixed recycling loose, not bagged, in the bin

11/7/2025

Don’t put mixed recyclables in a plastic bag. Closed plastic bags with items inside are considered contamination at recycling facilities.

Plastic bags and curbside recycling don’t mix! Both plastic bags used to contain recyclables and those that are tossed into recycling bins are problematic for recyclers.
Single-stream curbside programs rely on mechanical sorting of recyclables. The business model for recyclers depends, in turn, on keeping the machinery running efficiently. Plastic bags slow things down in two ways:

If used to contain recyclables, plastic bags have to be separated out and ripped open by workers, so that the recyclables can be removed and sorted. That’s so inefficient that recyclers may sideline plastic bags and send them to landfills instead.
Plastic bags that are included in curbside recycling bins along with other materials – especially the flimsy, single-use bags used by many supermarkets and big-box stores – clog sorting machinery. That results in costly downtime at sorting plants.

Most supermarkets collect plastic bags for recycling, so returning them to the store where you got them is a good option. Alternatively, try to cut down on the number of plastic bags you use in the first place. When running errands, take along a reusable shopping bag instead!

Buy Bird friendly Habitat certified coffee

10/31/2025

When buying your morning java, select coffee that is certified as Bird Friendly Habitat Coffee to promote coffee growing practices that support birds.

To quench the international thirst for coffee, plantations have sprung up throughout tropical areas, replacing habitat used by both resident and migratory birds. Americans alone drink 1/3 of the world’s coffee. The issue has been made worse by the development of sun-loving varieties being grown on large plantations that have already replaced 40% of the shade-grown varieties. However, by employing sustainable practices, these shade-loving tropical plants can be grown in such a way to recreate necessary bird habitat. Look for coffee that is certified as Smithsonian Bird Friendly® coffee: it is sustainably grown in shade created by a canopy of at least 60% native plants.

Learn more from The Willistown Conservation Trust.

More reduce and reuse, less recycle

10/24/2025

Focus first on waste reduction: reduce and reuse before relying on recycling

Reducing and reusing have greater value in terms of sustainability than recycling. Buying less new stuff and getting more use out of already existing stuff uses less resources and produces less waste. Recycling can be difficult to do correctly, and many materials remain unrecyclable. Despite this, there is a tendency for people attempting to be more sustainable to prioritize recycling over reduce or reuse. This behavior has been termed “recycling bias” and “reduction neglect.” The more effective way to reduce waste is to prevent its creation rather than relying on recycling.

See more details in this 2023 article in theconversation.com by Michaela Barnett, Leidy Klotz, Patrick I. Hancock, and Shahzeen Attari.

Save water with a low-flow toilet

10/10/2025

Installing a WaterSense labeled toilet saves gallons of water with every flush, reducing household water use by as much as 60%.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, toilet flushing can account for almost 30% of household water use. The current federal standard holds new toilets to 1.6 gallons per flush, but older models use as much as six gallons. You can save even more water by installing toilets that are certified with the WaterSense label. These use only 1.28 gallons per flush and still perform as well or better than standard models at clearing waste from the toilet bowl. The EPA suggests that you can save 13,000 gallons of water per year, saving you more than $170.

Read more from Consumer Reports and at US EPA.gov.

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Lawn Alternatives to Traditional Grass: A Low-Maintenance, Pollinator-Friendly Option

10/3/2025

For homeowners seeking a sustainable alternative to traditional turfgrass, there are modern, eco-friendly lawn blends that provide a lush green appearance while supporting pollinators and reducing maintenance.

By Rhonda Hilt

One of the most promising alternatives combines low-growing fine fescues with non-flowering microclover or traditional flowering clover. These turf alternatives are drought-tolerant, resilient to foot traffic, and adapt to partially shaded areas.

Fine fescues, like creeping red, hard, or chewings fescue, grow slowly, require little or no mowing, and don’t require added fertilizers. Microclover is a smaller-leaved variety of white clover that doesn’t produce flowers, and blends well with fescue. The clover fixes nitrogen naturally, reducing or completely eliminating the need for fertilizers, and stays green even during dry spells. Unlike traditional flower-producing clover, microclover has a uniform growth habit and integrates well with grass.

Fescue (grass) - clover (microclover or traditional white clover) combinations are easy to maintain, easy on the planet, require little or no irrigation after establishment, and are durable.

Getting Started

Fine fescue, micro-/white clover mixes are readily available from reputable seed companies as well as local hardware stores. The following online companies offer quality seed blends and knowledgeable customer support.

Sourcing Seed
Hancock Seed Company - Microlawn Seed Mix
One Green World - EcoLawn Mix
Michigan Wildflower Farm - Bee-Happy Turf Mix
American Meadows - No Mow Lawn and Microclover Seed Mix and No Mow Flowering and Lawn Seed Mix
Swarthmore Hardware - Pennington Smart Seed Clover Grass Mix Part Sun Part Shade Grass Seed Mix.

Establishment and Care

Soil preparation: Remove weeds, rototill, and rake the soil smooth.
Seeding rate: Most blends require 5-10 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet.
Planting time: Ideally in the early fall or spring when nights stay below 65°F.
Watering: Keep the surface moist until seedlings emerge (1-2 weeks), then reduce watering.
Mowing: For low-mow, cut to 4”, no-mow lawns can simply bloom and self-manage.
Let blooms stay: Allow clover to flower at least once a year to nourish pollinators.

Local Programs & Assistance

The following are excellent local resources and installation support in the Philadelphia area for converting traditional lawns to eco-friendly lawns.

Pennsylvania DCNR Lawn-to-Habitat Program - A statewide initiative offering free technical assistance, resources, and funding to convert lawns into pollinator meadows or low-input turf.

Journeywork (Greater Philadelphia) - Community-based organization offering Pollinator Palooza sessions, personal yard consultations & installation, and budget-friendly design and installation.

Local Nursery & Landscape Partners

Penn State Extension - Delaware County Master Gardeners - Provides plant recommendations and sells pollinator-friendly perennials each spring at local plant sales.

Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association (PLNA) - Connects homeowners to reputable member nurseries and landscapers who specialize in native plants and sustainable lawn alternatives.

Recap On Starting Your Eco-Friendly Lawn:

Site preparation - measure your space, note light requirements, soil texture, drainage, and areas with high foot traffic.
Test your soil - ideal range is 6.0-7.0.
Prepare your soil - Loosen the soil to a depth of 3”-4” using a broad fork or tiller.
Add compost - top dress prepared soil 1-2” and lightly incorporate. Compost aids in retaining moisture and stabilizing nutrients.
Seeding - Select the appropriate seed mix for your space, taking into account your site preparation information. Time your seeding for early fall or spring (soil temperatures 50-65°F). Lightly rake or roll to ensure good contact between the seed and soil. Mulch with straw if runoff is an issue.
Water & care - keep the surface moist for 7-14 days (water lightly daily), and maintain watering until a dense stand is achieved. Then, reduce watering. Clover’s deep rot and fescue drought tolerance take over.
Mowing - Mow high ( 3”-4”) or skip mowing entirely. A thick stand of plants will outcompete most weeds, with occasional hand weeding as necessary.
Enhancements for pollinators & biodiversity - let clover bloom at least once per season. Avoid pesticides and herbicides - they harm pollinators.
Most important - START SMALL, by converting areas gradually to stay manageable. Refresh seed annually in areas where plants are thin, and tweak your mowing and watering as needed.

Replacing conventional turfgrass with a low-maintenance alternative is both ecological and practical. A blend of fine fescue and microclover or white clover offers a sustainable solution for partial shade, moderate foot traffic, and drought-prone conditions. These sustainable seed mixes require less mowing and water compared to traditional lawns, and support pollinators, especially bees, with their seasonal blooms.

Eat smaller portions for better health

9/26/2025

People eat less when exposed to smaller portions, according to research.

Exposure to smaller portions of food changes perceptions of what constitutes a normal amount of food to eat and affects the amount of food people choose to eat in the future.

Read the 2019 article in the journal Food Quality and Preference.

Photo by AVID Vines, Flickr

Don't dispose of medicine in the toilet

9/12/2025

It’s easy to properly dispose of unused medicine--police stations throughout Delaware County, including Swarthmore’s, have permanent medicine drop boxes that are accessible 24 hours a day. Do not flush medicines down the toilet.

Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to potential accidental poisoning, misuse, and overdose. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.

Read more at PA.gov

Photo of Medicine drop box at Swarthmore police station by Susan O'Donnell

No oil or grease down the drain

9/5/2025

Collect leftover cooking oil in a sealed container. If you pour it down the sink, even a small amount, “fatbergs” can form that stick to your pipes and lead to blockages. If you have a septic tank, the results are riskier.

The problem goes beyond having a blockage in your own pipes. Your oil or grease combines with all the other oil and grease floating around in the sewer. When it meets “flushable” wipes and other products, a lethal bond is formed. It may not seem like a big deal to pour a little grease down the sink from time to time, but it becomes a major issue when everyone else is doing the same. The removal of fatbergs costs cities tremendous resources.

Read more at earth911

Photo by Susan O'Donnell

Recycle clothing, even in poor condition

8/29/2025

Imperfect clothing, textiles, and scraps can be confidently donated to The Wardrobe in Upper Darby for their upcycling initiatives. Their mission is combating clothing insecurity.

Keep those items out of the waste stream and donate items in good shape, as well. Simply separate the imperfect items and scraps into their own bag or box. Local news outlets recently celebrated The Wardrobe for 30 years of success and growth in its outreach.

Read more here:
https://careerwardrobe.org/get-involved/clothing-donations/
https://careerwardrobe.org/faq/

Preheat gas grill no more than 10 minutes

8/15/2025

When grilling outdoors this summer preheat the gas grill for no more than 10 minutes. Any longer than that wastes gas.

To minimize fuel use when using your gas grill, preheat for no more than 10 minutes. To make sure that you are ready to cook when the grill is sufficiently heated, prep your food before lighting the grill and set a timer to remind you when to start.

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